Southwest BBQ Smoked Chicken Tacos

September 22, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Birds Eye®, and Farm Rich® but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #FullnRichFlavor http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Life has been pretty crazy around here lately and it doesn't seem as if things are going to slow down any time soon. With that being said, it's still vastly important to me to feed my family healthy meals from my own kitchen as much as possible while keeping it all rather guilt-free.

When most people think of making a better-for-you and balanced dinner, they generally think of the time it takes. I'm here to tell you that isn't the case! You can have a well balanced meal that's quick, filling, and easy to do! These Southwest BBQ Smoked Chicken Tacos are an easy dinner that hits all the important food categories while having great bold flavor.

Flavor doesn't have to be sacrificed because of time...

Multi-Grain Chicken Tenders (Sponsored) + Give a Box

September 18, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #GiveABox #CollectiveBias

Starting this month, and for a limited time, you're able to gift some love (in the form of Cheerios ™) to a friend or loved one by picking up a specially marked package Walmart stores. There are currently five Cheerios ™ products that will contain a unique code that shoppers can enter online to give an e-card and mailed coupon for a free box to a recipient of their choice. Pretty nifty and thrifty, right?

I'll be gifting my free box to my Dad to re-live and remind him of the fond memories we have of the time we spent together when I was growing up. Many of those memories are still alive with my Grandfather (Papa) as well.

It's been a rough year for our family with the loss of my Grandfather weighing heavy on us all. My dad has become the rock that everyone has needed; moving back with my Grandmother to help her take care of things around her property, as well as being there for my Aunts and Cousins as well...

Healthified Shredded Buffalo Chicken (Crock Pot)

September 3, 2015 Amanda Plott

This is one of those great base recipes that could be used in many forms and fashions. It would be great in a sandwich, a wrap, incorporated into a chicken salad, or even in a grilled cheese. There's really so many uses for it that I thought it needed to be here as it is to stand on it's own.

I've kept this dish light and flavorful by letting the chicken remain simmering all day in a broth full of large chunks of fresh vegetables; allowing it to absorb all those great natural flavors. At the end of cooking, all you do is shred the chicken, toss it with a buffalo sauce of your choosing and use it as you see fit...

Peach Jalapeño Chicken Potstickers & Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce

July 31, 2015 Amanda Plott

I have this love-hate relationship with potstickers and wontons. I love to eat them and hate to make them. It kills me too! They are such an easy thing to make, but just as with any sort of individually wrapped food... it's time consuming! So I will start this off by saying, these are so easy-peasy - just be sure that you have some time on your hands to sit there and form each of them. It's not too bad, I think it took about an hour for me to prepare and cook these these, start to finish.

These potstickers are a million times tastier and better for you than the ones you'll get pre-made or at any restaurant. Why? Because you have complete control over what's going into them and how well they're cooked. Seriously, if I had the time I would make them everyday to eat.

Now, normally I would't step out of the box quite this far, but I had some leftover jalapeños and some lovely local peaches that needed to be used up, so I figured why not make some Asian fusion!...

Skinny Chicken Parmesan Casserole (Sponsored)

June 23, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #GetSaucy #CollectiveBias

I love Chicken Parmesan, and since I'm always trying to come up with new and innovative ways to put my spin on old classics, I decided to make a Skinny Chicken Parmesan Casserole! I wanted this dish to be light, easy (with only a handful of ingredients), and super delicious.

This is one of those great weeknight meals that you can pull together easily. Almost all of the ingredients are pantry staples in nearly every house. Such a simple and honest dish got rave reviews from the household. Full bellies and a clear conscience is what it's all about!

One of the biggest bonuses was that I was able to cook this one dish meal in just 30 minutes, with the oven being on only minimally in this warm Texas summer heat!...

California Chicken & Vegetable Bowl (With Green Goddess Dressing)

June 22, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Birds Eye®, and Tyson® but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #FastFreshFilling http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

The heat of Texas summer is upon me! The last couple of weeks I've been doing everything possible to use my oven as little as I can manage. It's amazing the difference that just a few minutes of the oven being on can make when it's above 90 degrees outside. So, I'm starting to get really creative with creating tasty and easy meals during the busy and rather hot days of summer without having to give up nutrition in the process.

I was wanting something fresh and light that also involved avocado, and then I remembered this Green Goddess dressing that I made a few months back that I was absolutely in love with. So, I decided I wanted to make use of it again in this California style Chicken & Vegetable bowl. Perfect!

The only change that I made to the dressing this time was around was using some fresh basil in placed of the thyme or tarragon that I had used before. Fresh basil just screams summer to me...